Wire-fence machine.



PATENTED OCT. 31, 1905.

D. P. ANTHONY. WIRE FENGE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1904.

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D. P. ANTHONY.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 28, 1904.

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NITED STATES PATENT orrion.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 31, 1905.

Application filed November 28, 1904:. Serial No. 234,581-

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known I, DANIEL P. ANTHONY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tecumseh, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in W'ire-Fence Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention relates to wire fence machines of thetype described and illustrated in Letters Patent No. 662,662, granted to me November 27, 1900, and has particular reference to an improved feeding mechanism forthe linewires and novel means for operating the drum or reel adapted to receive the finished fence.

The invention therefore consists in the construction of the feed mechanism and of the winding means for the drum or reel and, further, in the peculiar arrangement and combination of the various parts thereof, as will be fully hereinafter set forth and illustrated.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of a fence-machine, showing in side elevation the feed mechanism for the wires. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the driving means for intermittently operating the feed. Fig. 3 is a vertical central section through one of the feed devices. Fig. 4: is a sectional perspective view of the grippingclamp. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the friction-clutch. Fig. 6 is a sectional perspective view of one of the feed devices, showing the construction and application of the clamp-spring; and Fig. 7 is a front View looking from direction of arrow, Fig. 1, partly in section, illustrating the drive mechanism and the collapsible drum or reel.

With the exception of the feeding and winding mechanism the parts of the fence-machine are substantially the same as described in the patent referred to or else of well-known construction and as they form no part of the present invention will be but briefly referred to.

The reference-letters A and B designate, respectively, the main driveshaft of the machine and a driven shaft, the latter carrying the feed mechanism for feeding the line-wires and both shafts being journaled in a suitable frame C, preferably of the construction described and illustrated in the patent previously referred to.-

The feed mechanism consists of a plurality of independent feed devices, preferably in the form of disks, corresponding innumber to the number of line-wires of the fence. These disks are rigidly attached to the shaft B and are rotated intermittently by a drive mechanism of any appropriate form. Preferably the driving means consists of a ratchet F, rigidly attachedto a portion E of the shaft B, projecting beyond the frame,a slotted ratchetlever G ,loosely sleeved upon said shaft, a diskcrank H upon the main drive-shaft A, a lever I, pivoted at its end J at any suitable point to the frame and slotted, as at K, at its opposite end to receive the wrist-pin L, and the connecting bar M, adjustably secured to the ratchet-lever G and pivoted to the lever I, as indicated in Fig. 2.

O designates a pawl carried by the arm G and engaging the ratchet F.

Motion being imparted through the main drive-shaft A to the ratchet-arm G, the driven shaft B, carrying the feed devices, is operated intermittently, the extent of rotation at each revolution of the disk crank being determined by the adjustment between the connecting-rod M and the ratchet-lever. By this adjustment the space between the stay-wires of the fence is determined.

As previously stated, the feed devices are in the form of independent disks, as P, the periphery of each being channeled, as at Q, to receive the fence-wire. Mounted radially upon one face of each disk are a plurality. of clamps R, arranged in spaced bearings S, for rotation about an axis radial to and parallel with the disk P, radial movement of the clamps being prevented by collars a and b, as plainly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. Each clamp carries an overhanging head T, arranged immediately adjacent the channeled periphery ofthe disk, so that upon rotation or partial rotation of the clamping member the head will project within the channel and engage and grip the wire in the manner indicated. Rigidly attached to each clamping member or bar is an angle-lever U, which projects beyond the periphery of the disk and carries at its extremity a roller V. W represents a spring interposed between the leyer U and the disk and acts normally to hold the clamping-head T in engagement with the wire.

In practice the line wires of the fence, mounted in the usual manner on spools X, suitably supported for rotation, are looped over the severaldisks, as illustrated, the wire being arranged within the channel and being held and gripped normally by the clamps, previously described. Suitable tension and guide devices Y are employed between the feed mechanism and the spools to hold the wire taut in its passage from the source of supply to the feed device. From the disks described the wire passes in the usual manner to a tying and twisting mechanism Z of the construction described in my patent. From thence the fence fabric passes over suitable rotary guides A, mounted in suitable bearings on the frame to the reel B, which may be of any form, preferably of the collapsible type.

0 represents a cam in the form of a curved bar, as c, suitably secured to the framework by legs 0Z. One cam is used for each disk and arranged in operative relation to the rollers upon the clamping-levers U at a point near the crossing or intersecting of the wire, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. As the disk rotates the wire wrapped thereon is gripped tightly in the channel until the clamp-heads approach the intersection. The rollers then successively engage the cam, rocking the clamping-heads out of the channel and out of engagement with the wire and hold them in disengagement until the clamps pass the. intersection, when they reengage through the action of their springs W. By this construction of feed the several line-wires of the fence are gripped tightly during the feed of the wires, and any slipping of the latter is effectively prevented.

To properly coil the finished fence upon its support, it is desirable that the fence be kept taut during the operation of winding, which result I obtain by operating the reel intermittently simultaneously with the operation of the feed, the preferable means employed being a direct drive connection between the parts. Owing, however, to the varying diameter of the reel occasioned by the continuous coiling of the fence thereon, the driving means must permit of a variance in the extent of rotation of the reel relative to the feed, the amount of rotary movement decreasing as the reel-diameter increases. I have shown and preferably employ a friction 'drive connection to accomplish this result,

which in practice has given exceedingly-satisfactory results; but I do not care to be limited to this particular type of drive, as other types may be employed without in any manner departing from my invention. The driving means referred 'to consists of a frictionclutch E upon an extension F ofthe reelshaft, the sleeved member G of the clutch having sprocket-teeth H, forming a sprocketwheel, a complementary sprocket-wheel I,

fixed upon the part E of the shaft B, adjacent necting the wheels. The end of the finished fence is attached to the reel in any suitable manner, as upon a rod g, and as the fence is intermittently discharged from the machine it is simultaneously coiled upon its rotary support. As the diameter of the reel increases the friction-clutch permits of a certain amount of lost motion, so that the reel will rotate to a less extent during the operation of winding, while the operation of the feed mechanism is constant. By collapsing the reel in the usual manner the finished fence may be removed for storage or transportation.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a feed mechanism for wire-fence machines, the combination of a revoluble wiresupport and a clamping member thereon rotatable about an axis radial to and parallel with the plane of movement of the support and adapted normally to engage and grip the 2'. In afeed mechanism for wire-fence machines, the combination with a revoluble wire-support, of a clamping member thereon rotatable about an axis radial-to and parallel with the plane of movement of the support and adapted normally to engage and grip the wire, and means for periodically disengaging the clamp during a determined period in the rotation of the support.

3. In a feed mechanism for wire-fence machines, the combination of a rotary disk having a channeled periphery to receive the fence-wire, of a plurality of radially-arranged spring pressed clamp members thereon mounted for rotary movement on an axis radial to and parallel with the disk and adapted to normally engage and grip the wire, and a cam in the path of the clamps adapted .to successively disengage the latter at a point in the rotation of the disk.

4:. In a wire-fence machine, the combina tion with a driveshaft, of a shaft driven thereby an adjustably-variable partial rotation at eachrotati'on of said drive-shaft, a plurality of wire-supports bearing clam ing members and carried by said driven shaft, a reel adapted to receive the finished fence, and a shaft therefor.

5. In a wire-fence machine, the combination with a drive-shaft, of a shaft driven shaft therefor, and a friction drive connection between said shaft and said driven shaft. 6. In a wire-fence machine, the combina tion with a drive-shaft, of a shaft driven thereby an adj ustably-variable partial revolution at each rotation of said drive-shaft, a plurality of revoluble wire-supports mounted on said driven shaft, clamping members mounted to rotate radially to the plane of movement of said supports and adapted normally to engage and grip the wire, a reel adapted to receive the finished fence, a shaft therefor, and a friction drive connection between said shaft and said driven shaft for 16V regulating the winding tension of the material on said reel.

In testimony whereof I afIiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL P. ANTHONY. Witnesses:

H. 0. SMITH, JAs. P. BARRY. 

